Asteroids for Calibration of MIR Spectroscopy
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Below is a table of asteroids with radii greater than 70 km. Approximate coordinates (J2000) are given every year. Asteroid observations are available in the OT library and can be cut and pasted directly in the user's OT program (with the necessary changes being made to the instrument configuration).
The observer should pick the best asteroid for the time of the semester during which the observation is most likely to be performed.
Asteroids are useful telluric standards for medium-to-high resolution N and Q band spectroscopy because they have no narrow spectral features. They may have broad (FWHM~1um) features with strengths as much as 5% of the continuum (see e.g. Lim et al. 2005 Icarus, 173, 385 [ADS abstract]).
At opposition a typical asteroid is ~1.5 AU from earth. An asteroid of radius 100 km at this distance will have an N magnitude of ~-0.2 mag and a Q magnitude of ~-3.0 mag. A program that uses the echelle should select asteroids at least 75 km in radius, as smaller asteroids require longer integration times. Experience with observations at the short end of the N band window (~7.7 microns) has shown that asteroids tend to be fainter at these wavelengths; PIs planning observations at short wavelengths should pick the largest object possible.
ID# | Name | Radius (km) | RA, Dec 2011.0 | RA, Dec 2012.0 | RA, Dec 2013.0 | RA, Dec 2014.0 | RA, Dec 2015.0 | RA, Dec 2016.0 |
1 | Ceres | 474 | 20.2, -26 | 23.9, -11 | 05.5, +26 | 13.6, +1 | 17.8, -24 | 21.6, -23 |
2 | Pallas | 266 | 18.3, +3 | 21.0, -2 | 00.3, -16 | 10.1, -22 | 16.3, +3 | 19.3, +2 |
4 | Vesta | 265 | 17.0, -19 | 22.6, -15 | 04.7, +18 | 13.3, -1 | 19.1, -23 | 00.5, -4 |
10 | Hygiea | 203.6 | 14.4, -18 | 18.9, -23 | 22.5, -6 | 01.8, +15 | 06.6, +24 | 11.9, -3 |
511 | Davida | 163 | 17.3, -16 | 19.7, -24 | 22.9, -21 | 04.2, +9 | 12.5, +13 | 15.7, -7 |
704 | Interamnia | 158.3 | 17.6, -28 | 21.1, -5 | 02.6, +30 | 09.6, +1 | 13.0, -25 | 16.4, -31 |
52 | Europa | 151.3 | 12.7, +1 | 16.4, -16 | 19.4, -20 | 22.4, -14 | 02.4, +5 | 10.2, +12 |
87 | Sylvia | 130.5 | 21.5, -24 | 01.1, -1 | 05.6, +27 | 10.4, +23 | 13.5, +1 | 16.2, -18 |
31 | Euphrosyne | 127.9 | 22.6, -28 | 01.7, +_26 | 12.7, +23 | 15.2, -22 | 17.7, -40 | 20.8, -40 |
15 | Eunomia | 127.7 | 20.6, -15 | 03.7, +31 | 11.9, -10 | 15.5, -10 | 19.4, -22 | 00.4, +17 |
16 | Psyche | 126.6 | 04.8, +18 | 11.3, +4 | 14.8, -14 | 18.1, -21 | 22.3, -11 | 04.8, +18 |
65 | Cybele | 118.6 | 02.6, +11 | 06.6, +19 | 11.0, +6 | 14.8, -14 | 18.6, -21 | 22.2, -12 |
3 | Juno | 117 | 11.8, -3 | 15.5, -10 | 18.3, -14 | 22.1, -11 | 08.9, +1 | 14.45, -8 |
324 | Bamberga | 114.7 | 11.9, -3 | 14.4, -24 | 18.0, -31 | 00.2, +15 | 10.7, +9 | 13.4, -17 |
451 | Patientia | 112.5 | 21.1, -27 | 01.2, -7 | 07.9, +29 | 13.6, +7 | 16.6, -16 | 19.8, -27 |
107 | Camilla | 111.3 | 22.1, -10 | 01.2, 0 | 06.1, +10 | 11.5, 0 | 15.1, -11 | 18.0, -16 |
532 | Herculina | 111.1 | 17.6, -18 | 21.5, -24 | 01.0, -12 | 06.0, +17 | 14.7, 0 | 19.2, -23 |
48 | Doris | 110.9 | 20.5, -15 | 00.0, -2 | 06.0, +14 | 12.2, -4 | 15.8, -16 | 18.9, -18 |
45 | Eugenia | 107.3 | 21.7, -15 | 02.0, +4 | 08.6, +14 | 14.7, -11 | 19.5, -19 | 23.8, -6 |
29 | Amphitrite | 106.1 | 21.0, -20 | 02.1, +21 | 11.9, +3 | 16.3, -26 | 20.6, -22 | 01.5, +16 |
121 | Hermione | 104.5 | 10.2, +20 | 13.2, 0 | 15.6, -16 | 18.5, -26 | 22.0, -19 | 02.3, +11 |
423 | Diotima | 104.4 | 09.9, +27 | 14.3, -5 | 18.0, -26 | 22.0, -22 | 01.8, +5 | 07.5, +32 |
13 | Egeria | 103.8 | 20.3, -32 | 00.3, -4 | 09.8, +40 | 15.5, -18 | 19.7, -33 | 23.8, -10 |
94 | Aurora | 102.4 | 14.4, -17 | 17.5, -29 | 20.8, -22 | 00.2, +5 | 06.9, +35 | 12.5, -1 |
7 | Iris | 99.9 | 08.7, +12 | 14.4, -19 | 18.1, -23 | 23.0, -1 | 11.4, -3 | 15.5, -22 |
702 | Alauda | 97.4 | 11.8, -19 | 15.9, -35 | 19.6, -20 | 22.5, +10 | 02.9, +37 | 08.9, +10 |
372 | Palma | 94.3 | 21.4, -14 | 00.6, +35 | 11.6, -1 | 14.7, -36 | 17.6, -41 | 20.1, -29 |
128 | Nemesis | 94.1 | 12.4, +5 | 15.9, -18 | 19.8, -24 | 00.9, +1 | 09.5, +22 | 14.0, -6 |
6 | Hebe | 92.6 | 00.9, -12 | 11.3, +8 | 15.6, -6 | 19.5, -18 | 03.4, -4 | 12.4, +5 |
154 | Bertha | 92.5 | 22.2, -28 | 00.9, +3 | 05.0, +45 | 12.3, +22 | 15.7, -22 | 19.6, -28 |
76 | Freia | 91.8 | 18.1, -22 | 20.5, -17 | 23.1, -5 | 03.6, +17 | 11.0, +4 | 14.7, -16 |
130 | Elektra | 91.1 | 12.1, +8 | 14.9, +3 | 17.5, -6 | 21.0, -17 | 03.2, -14 | 10.0, +7 |
22 | Kalliope | 90.5 | 23.5, -15 | 06.0, +33 | 13.1, +8 | 16.2, -19 | 19.6, -30 | 23.7, -14 |
259 | Aletheia | 89.3 | 01.9, +3 | 06.2, +25 | 11.5, +16 | 15.8, -14 | 20.1, -25 | 00.0, -11 |
120 | Lachesis | 87.1 | 18.3, -28 | 21.8, -14 | 01.0, +13 | 06.4, +32 | 12.1, -1 | 16.1, -26 |
41 | Daphne | 87 | 02.9, 0 | 07.9, -1 | 15.9, -12 | 21.4, -10 | 00.9, -3 | 04.6, +1 |
747 | Winchester | 85.8 | 07.8, +10 | 13.3, +7 | 15.6, -3 | 17.6, -12 | 20.7, -20 | 05.0, 0 |
153 | Hilda | 85.3 | 04.0, +17 | 07.1, +14 | 10.1, +2 | 13.2, -13 | 16.5, -20 | 19.8, -15 |
790 | Pretoria | 85.2 | 04.0, +21 | 07.7, +3 | 11.1, -19 | 14.9, -28 | 18.9, -14 | 22.6, +10 |
96 | Aegle | 85 | 02.1, +34 | 10.0, +17 | 15.2, -31 | 19.4, -29 | 22.1, -6 | 00.7, +23 |
241 | Germania | 84.4 | 16.6, -24 | 20.4, -16 | 00.8, +10 | 07.3, +20 | 11.9, -6 | 15.3, -22 |
194 | Prokne | 84.2 | 15.9, -7 | 21.8, -14 | -5.3, -3 | 10.6, +2 | 14.8, -4 | 20.2, -14 |
566 | Stereoskopia | 84.1 | 15.7, -17 | 18.6, -24 | 22.1, -16 | 02.4, +12 | 08.5, +23 | 12.4, +3 |
911 | Agamemnon | 83.3 | 05.0, +49 | 08.6, +37 | 10.7, +13 | 12.2, -9 | 13.6, -26 | 15.2, -37 |
54 | Alexandra | 82.9 | 00.0, +13 | 06.4, +34 | 11.2, 0 | 15.9, -30 | 21.7, -9 | 03.2, +33 |
386 | Siegena | 82.5 | 02.3, -11 | 10.1, -2 | 14.1, -3 | 17.2, -7 | 20.8, -10 | 02.9, -10 |
59 | Elpis | 82.4 | 15.8, -14 | 19.6, -17 | 00.7, -2 | 09.2, +7 | 14.0, -9 | 17.7, -17 |
1437 | Diomedes | 82.2 | 07.2, +36 | 09.7, +14 | 11.5, -9 | 13.2, -26 | 15.1, -37 | 17.2, -38 |
409 | Aspasia | 80.8 | 23.5, +6 | 05.8, +15 | 13.1, -18 | 18.5, -19 | 22.9, +2 | 04.7, +17 |
209 | Dido | 80 | 14.0, -14 | 18.0, -29 | 21.8, -16 | 01.2, +13 | -6.4, +33 | 11.8, +5 |
444 | Gyptis | 79.8 | 18.1, -16 | 23.2, -4 | 06.9, +7 | 12.0, -6 | 15.6, -15 | 19.8, -14 |
185 | Eunike | 78.8 | 17.2, -5 | 21.3, -15 | 04.0, -13 | 11.4, +3 | 15.4, -1 | 19.0, -10 |
804 | Hispania | 78.6 | 13.1, -11 | 17.0, -34 | 22.0, -13 | 03.3, +40 | 10.4, +21 | 13.8, -18 |
139 | Juewa | 78.3 | 11.8, +9 | 17.2, -31 | 21.1, -23 | 23.8, +2 | 04.9, +39 | 14.0, -13 |
334 | Chicago | 77.9 | 09.1, +16 | 12.6, 0 | 15.3, -14 | 18.0, -21 | 20.8, -18 | 23.5, -7 |
165 | Loreley | 77.6 | 02.6, +29 | 08.4, +21 | 12.4, -13 | 16.5, -30 | 20.6, -16 | 00.2, +14 |
354 | Eleonora | 77.6 | 15.4, -3 | 19.1, -15 | 22.5, -17 | 03.0, -8 | 11.5, +7 | 16.7, -8 |
85 | Io | 77.4 | 14.1, -14 | 18.9, -15 | 01.2, +3 | 08.2, +3 | 12.7, -11 | 17.1, -17 |
173 | Ino | 77.1 | 10.1, +7 | 14.0, -2 | 17.2, -12 | 21.6, -16 | 05.8, +4 | 12.1, +3 |
11 | Parthenope | 76.7 | 13.1, -3 | 18.0, -21 | 23.7, -7 | 07.6, +19 | 13.8, -7 | 18.8, -22 |
89 | Julia | 75.7 | 10.1, +10 | 13.9, -26 | 18.6, -30 | 00.0, +20 | 09.8, +14 | 13.6, -24 |
536 | Merapi | 75.7 | 22.9, -24 | 02.5, +12 | 07.8, +42 | 12.3, +22 | 14.7, -6 | 17.3, -27 |
150 | Nuwa | 75.6 | 08.6, +15 | 12.8, -6 | 16.1, -20 | 20.0, -19 | 00.7, +4 | 07.7, +18 |
145 | Adeona | 75.6 | 18.0, -25 | 21.5, -25 | 01.6, +1 | 12.1, +16 | 16.6, -19 | 20.2, -27 |
488 | Kreusa | 75.1 | 22.9, -18 | 01.9, +2 | 08.2, +28 | 14.7, -6 | 18.2, -24 | 21.1, -25 |
49 | Pales | 74.9 | 08.1, +20 | 12.6, -7 | 15.2, -20 | 17.9, -24 | 21.3, -14 | 03.7, +22 |
117 | Lomia | 74.4 | 21.4, -20 | 00.8, +19 | 08.5, +38 | 13.1, -11 | 16.8, -34 | 20.8, -25 |
238 | Hypatia | 74.2 | 12.3, -6 | 16.0, -13 | 19.5, -13 | 23.7, -5 | 06.5, +4 | 12.5, -6 |
168 | Sibylla | 74.2 | 15.5, -18 | 18.6, -20 | 21.9, -10 | 01.8, +9 | 07.5, +15 | 11.8, -3 |
39 | Laetitia | 74.8 | 00.0, -8 | 07.6, +10 | 13.0, -3 | 16.7, -14 | 20.8, -16 | 02.7, +1 |
283 | Emma | 74 | 08.9, +18 | 12.6, -11 | 15.8, -26 | 19.6, -22 | 00.0, +9 | 07.1, +27 |
51 | Nemausa | 73.9 | 13.0, -8 | 18.6, -16 | 23.3, -7 | 06.8, +6 | 15.3, -13 | 20.3, -14 |
106 | Dione | 73.3 | 07.4, +27 | 12.3, +3 | 15.0, -15 | 17.8, -24 | 21.2, -20 | 02.1, +11 |
20 | Massalia | 72.8 | 11.8, 0 | 16.9, -22 | 20.9, -17 | 02.1, +11 | 13.5, -10 | 18.0, -23 |
137 | Meliboea | 72.7 | 11.0, -6 | 14.6, -15 | 19.1, -13 | 00.3, +1 | 05.4, +7 | 09.3, -1 |
211 | Isolda | 71.6 | 20.0, -19 | 23.3, 0 | 06.8, +21 | 13.1, -11 | 16.3, -23 | 19.1, -21 |
1172 | Aneas | 71.4 | 20.9, -3 | 22.9, +9 | 01.0, +18 | 03.3, +21 | 05.5, +17 | 07.4, +8 |
508 | Princetonia | 71.2 | 18.0, -30 | 21.8, -24 | 01.2, +5 | 06.6, +39 | 12.4, +11 | 15.8, -20 |
361 | Bononia | 70.9 | 13.4, -6 | 15.4, -24 | 17.3, -32 | 19.3, -33 | 21.4, -25 | 23.6, -6 |
895 | Helio | 70.9 | 20.4, -2 | 23.6, +22 | 06.9, +9 | 12.4, -31 | 16.1, -32 | 18.7, -17 |
144 | Vibilia | 70.9 | 02.9, +16 | 11.3, +10 | 14.6, -12 | 18.2, -24 | 00.0, -4 | 09.7, +19 |
420 | Bertholda | 70.6 | 23.9, +5 | 04.2, +19 | 09.8, +4 | 13.8, -16 | 17.1, -22 | 20.0, -16 |
93 | Minerva | 70.5 | 6.9, +35 | 12.4, +1 | 17.3, -29 | 22.5, -11 | 03.1, +28 | 09.6, +25 |
617 | Patroclus | 70.5 | 19.5, -39 | 22.0, -32 | 00.2, -12 | 02.2, +15 | 04.7, +38 | 07.8, +46 |
308 | Polyxo | 70.3 | 19.1, -20 | 23.4, -4 | 05.3, +17 | 12.0, -2 | 16.6, -19 | 20.9, -15 |
18 | Melpomene | 70.3 | 12.3, +1 | 16.3, -13 | 21.4, -16 | 09.0, +8 | 14.3, -7 | 18.6, -18 |
ID# | Name | Radius (km) | RA, Dec 2011.0 | RA, Dec 2012.0 | RA, Dec 2013.0 | RA, Dec 2014.0 | RA, Dec 2015.0 | RA, Dec 2016.0 |